Program guide display controller and television receiver

ABSTRACT

A program-guide-display controlling apparatus for displaying a plurality of program guides on a display unit in a matrix form by using one of the ordinate and the abscissa as a channel number axis and another one as a time axis comprises means for displaying to discriminate a time period in which a purchased program is present and a time period in which the purchased program is not present, so as to ensure that a situation in which two or more PPV programs which are broadcast during the same time period happen to be purchased is made difficult to occur.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a program-guide-display controllingapparatus for displaying a program guide necessary for selecting aprogram desired by a user from a plurality of channels.

BACKGROUND ART

In the digital satellite broadcasting system (DSS) which has been put tocommercial use in the United States, a multiplicity of more than 150channels are available, and very numerous programs are being provided.In this system, guide information on programs which are presently beingbroadcast and programs which will be broadcast in the future istransmitted at predetermined time intervals together with primaryprogram data. A user-side terminal has a function of displaying aprogram guide screen (program guide table) on the basis of the programguide information. As shown in FIG. 10, a partial program guide table ofan entire program guide table E corresponding to the entire programguide information received is displayed on the user-side terminal. Aplurality of program guides are displayed on the program guide screen ina matrix form by using the ordinate as a channel number axis and theabscissa as a time axis. In this example, programs on five channels fora period of two hours and a half are displayed. At the left end, channelnumbers are displayed in a vertical arrangement. Frames which indicatetime periods of programs which are broadcast on the respective channelsare displayed in rows corresponding to the respective channels, andtitles (A to P) are displayed in the respective frames.

The display screen is scrolled vertically or horizontally as the useroperates a cursor, thereby making it possible to display other portionsof the program guide table within the entire program guide table E.

Programs which are provided in the DSS include no-charge programs whichcan be viewed free of charge if the user pays a system utilization fee,including a charge for subscribing to the DSS, a basic fee, and thelike, as well as chargeable programs for which fees are chargedseparately from the system utilization fee. In addition, the chargeableprograms include those which the user purchases in advance in units ofchannels, and those for which fees are charged only when the programsare viewed (PPV: pay per view). To view a PPV program, a procedure forpurchase must be taken on the television screen before the program isstarted or when that program is being broadcast.

To purchase a PPV program, a PPV program to be purchased is selectedfrom a program guide table displayed on the television screen shown inFIG. 10. Then, since a purchase procedure screen is displayed, apurchase procedure is taken in accordance with the instructions on thescreen.

Since the user has not necessarily memorized accurately the purchasedPPV program, there are cases where the user happens to purchase bysubscription two or more PPV programs which are broadcast in the sametime period. In addition, in a case where a plurality of users arepresent for one user-side terminal, there is a high possibility that theuser happens to purchase by subscription two or more PPV programs whichare broadcast in the same time period for one user-side terminal.

In addition, time periods during which users can view televisionprograms and time periods during which users wish to view televisionprograms are generally fixed for each user. For this reason, broadcasttime periods of PPV programs which are purchased by subscription byusers are also generally fixed for each user. Accordingly, it will beconvenient if time periods during which users wish to view televisionprograms can be set for each user, and as for a program guide onprograms which are broadcast during the set time period, the user isable to recognize that the program guide is the program guide onprograms which are broadcast during the time period set by the user.

An object of the present invention is to provide a program-guide-displaycontrolling apparatus and a television receiver in which the situationis made unlikely to occur in which two or more PPV programs which arebroadcast during the same time period happen to be purchased, or such adisplay can be used as a rough criterion as to whether or not a PPVprogram or the like is to be purchased, by providing display in theprogram guide display such that a time period for which the user made apurchase by subscription and a time period designated by the user can bediscriminated.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided aprogram-guide-display controlling apparatus for displaying a pluralityof program guides on a display unit in a matrix form by using one of theordinate and the abscissa as a channel number axis and another one as atime axis, comprising: means for displaying to discriminate a timeperiod in which a purchased program is present and a time period inwhich the purchased program is not present.

In the program-guide-display controlling apparatus in accordance with afirst aspect of the present invention, since display is provided todiscriminate the time period in which a purchased program is present andthe time period in which the purchased program is not present, the useris able to immediately know a time period in which a purchased programis present, through the program guide screen. For this reason, it ispossible to prevent a situation in which two or more programs arepurchased by mistake for the same time period.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a program-guide-display controlling apparatus for displaying aplurality of program guides on a display unit in a matrix form by usingone of the ordinate and the abscissa as a channel number axis andanother one as a time axis, comprising: setting means for allowing anarbitrary time period to be set by a user; and discriminatinglydisplaying means for effecting display to discriminate the time periodset by the user and other time periods. Accordingly, since display isprovided to discriminate from the other time periods, it is possible torecognize at a glance the program guide on programs which are broadcastduring the time period set by the user. Accordingly, the purchase andthe like by subscription of PPV programs which are broadcast during thetime period set by the user can be facilitated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a user-sideterminal;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a display table;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an overall processing procedure fordisplaying a program guide screen;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure ofprogram-guide-image generation processing in Step 3 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the program guide screendisplayed on the basis of a program guide image formed by processing inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating another example of theprogram-guide-image generation processing;

FIG. 7 is diagram illustrating an example of the program guide screendisplayed on the basis of the program guide image formed by processingin FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating still another example of theprogram-guide-image generation processing;

FIG. 9 is diagram illustrating an example of the program guide screendisplayed on the basis of the program guide image formed by processingin FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the program guide screen displayed onthe user-side terminal in DSS;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a time-zone settingscreen;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a example of the program guide screendisplayed in a case where a time period has been set by the user;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of theprogram-guide-image generation processing which is executed in the casewhere the time period has been set by the user;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating another example of the time-zonesetting screen;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the processing procedurefor displaying the program guide screen;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating another part of the processingprocedure for displaying the program guide screen;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure of theprogram-guide-image generation processing in Step 153 shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a detailed procedure oftime-related-image generation processing in Step 154 shown in FIG. 15;and

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a example of the program guide screen.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a description will be given of anembodiment in a case where the present invention is applied to thedigital satellite broadcasting system (DSS) which has been put tocommercial use in the United States.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a user-side terminal. A combination of atelevision receiver and a program-guide-display controlling apparatus,or a television receiver incorporating a program-guide-displaycontrolling circuit is used as the user-side terminal. The user-sideterminal has a CPU 6 for controlling the overall user-side terminal. TheCPU 6 has a storage device 9 for storing its program and necessary data.An operation unit 5 comprising a remote controller or the like isconnected to the CPU 6. The CPU 6 controls a tuner 2 for displaying aprogram selected by the operation unit 5, and controls aprogram-guide-image generating circuit 4 for generating a program guideimage.

A high-frequency signal from an unillustrated parabolic antenna isinputted to an input terminal 1. The signal inputted to the inputterminal 1 is sent to the tuner 2. In the tuner, processing such asfrequency conversion, QPSK demodulation and the like is effected, and astream of digital video signals is generated. An output from the tuner 2is sent to a video processing circuit 3.

In the video processing circuit 3, the stream outputted from the tuner 3is MPEG decoded, and an analog video signal for displaying on a displayunit 8 such as a CRT, e.g., an NTSC signal, is generated. This videosignal is sent to the display unit 8 through a multiplexer 7 so as to bedisplayed on the display unit 8.

In the video processing circuit 3, program guide information isextracted from the output from the tuner 3, and is supplied to the CPU6. The program guide information supplied to the CPU 6 is stored in thestorage device 9. Set screen information for displaying various setscreens such as a menu screen is stored in advance in the storage device9, and information concerning programs which have been purchased(purchased programs) and the like are also stored therein.

The program-guide-screen generating circuit 4 has a display memory (notshown). In the program-guide-screen generating circuit 4, various setimages and program guide images are formed on the display memory on thebasis of the set screen information, the program guide information, andthe like which are stored in the storage device 9. Then, the imagesformed on the display memory are consecutively read, and are sent to thedisplay unit 8 through the multiplexer 7 so as to be displayed on thedisplay unit 8. On the basis of a control signal from the CPU 6, themultiplexer 7 selects one of the output from the video processingcircuit 3 and the output from the program-guide-image generating circuit4, and supplies it to the display unit 8.

The operation unit 5 is provided with a menu key 11 for displaying themenu screen, four cursor movement keys 12L, 12R, 12U, and 12D for movinga cursor horizontally and vertically, a select key 13 for selecting andinputting, and the like. When the user wishes to view a program guidescreen, it suffices if the user operates the menu key 11 to display themenu screen, and then selects a program guide by operating the cursormovement keys 12L, 12R, 12U, and 12D and the select key 13.

The program guide information sent to the receiver includes guideinformation on the programs for all the channels from the present timeto the time 24 hours ahead, for example. The program guide informationon one program includes a title, its fee (rate) if the program is a PPVprogram, the category (sports, music, drama, news, etc.), the startingtime, the ending time, and so on.

The CPU 6 regards the guide information on the programs for all thechannels as being two-dimensionally arranged information in which thechannel numbers are set in the vertical direction and the time is set inthe horizontal direction as shown on the upper side in FIG. 10, and theCPU 6 generates an index table which can be accessed, by using thechannel numbers and slot numbers indicating the time. The slot numbersare numbers which are allotted in units of 30 minutes, for example.Incidentally, the two-dimensionally arranged region corresponding to theentire program guide information shown on the upper side in FIG. 10 willbe referred to as an entire program guide region.

If a program guide display is selected by the operation unit 5, the CPU6 generates a display table such as the one shown in FIG. 2 on the basisof the channel number selected immediately before then, the presenttime, and the index table. In FIG. 2, the program guide displayinformation is stored in small regions (hereafter referred to as cells)in the region excluding the leftmost column. Accordingly, in thisexample, a display table corresponding to a 5 channels×5 cells portion(corresponding to two hours and a half) of the program guide. Thechannel numbers (absolute channel numbers) or data on the station namescorresponding to those channel numbers are stored in the cells in theleftmost column.

In FIG. 2, x in (x, y) described as an index in each cell denotes arelative channel number (a relative channel number among the slots inthe display table, and not an absolute channel number), and y denotes arelative slot number (a relative slot number among the cells in thedisplay table, and not an absolute slot number). The program guidedisplay information corresponding to the channel number selectedimmediately before then and the present time is stored in a second cellSo from the left in an uppermost row (hereafter this cell will bereferred to as a reference cell).

The program guide display information stored in each slot includes atitle, the number of cells in which the program continues (the number ofexclusively occupied cells), the rate, information representing whetheror not the program has been purchased, the category, and so on. On thebasis of the display table thus created, the program-guide-imagegenerating circuit 4 generates on the display memory an imagecorresponding to the program guide screen such as the one shown on thelower side in FIG. 10. Then, as the image generated on the displaymemory is sent to the display unit 8, the program guide screen such asthe one shown on the lower side in FIG. 10 is displayed on the displayunit 8.

FIG. 3 shows an overall procedure of processing which is executed by theCPU 6 and the program-guide-image generating circuit 4 in the case wherethe program guide is selected by the operation unit 5.

When the program guide is selected by the operation unit 5, the channelnumber selected immediately before then and the present time are read,and the reference cell is set in the entire program guide region (Step1).

The display table shown in FIG. 2 is created on the basis of the setreference cell and the index table (Step 2).

Information in this display table is sent from the CPU 6 to theprogram-guide-image generating circuit 4. In the program-guide-imagegenerating circuit 4, program-guide-image generation processing iseffected on the basis of the sent information (Step 3). That is, aprogram guide image is generated on the display memory. As the programguide image generated on the display memory is consecutively read andsent to the display unit 8, a program guide screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 8. Subsequently, the operation is set in a state of waitingfor a key input.

When there has been a select key input by the select key 11 (YES in Step4), predetermined selection processing such as the selection of aprogram, a reservation of a program, and the like is executed.

When there has been a cursor key input by the cursor movement keys 12L,12R, 12U, and 12D (YES in Step 5), processing in Step 6, 7, or 9 iseffected in correspondence with the operated cursor movement keys 12L,12R, 12U, and 12D.

In other words, if the operated key is the left movement key 12L, theoperation proceeds to Step 6 to determine whether or not there has beena command for leftward movement from the left end of the entire programguide region. If the operated key is the right movement key 12R, theoperation proceeds to Step 7 to determine whether or not there has beena command for rightward movement from the right end of the entireprogram guide region. If the operated key is the upward movement key12U, the operation proceeds to Step 8 to determine whether or not therehas been a command for upward movement from the upper end of the entireprogram guide region. If the operated key is the downward movement key12D, the operation proceeds to Step 9 to determine whether or not therehas been a command for downward movement from the lower end of theentire program guide region.

The cursor cannot be moved if there has been a command for leftwardmovement from the left end of the entire program guide region (YES inStep 6), if there has been a command for rightward movement from theright end of the entire program guide region (YES in Step 7), if therehas been a command for upward movement from the upper end of the entireprogram guide region (YES in Step 8), or if there has been a command fordownward movement from the lower end of the entire program guide region(YES in Step 9). Hence, the operation returns to Step 4, and is set in astate of waiting for a key input.

If the cursor movement command by the cursor key input is not a commandwhich cannot move the cursor as described above, the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is calculated (Step 10). Then, adetermination is made as to whether or not the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is within the program guide screenbeing displayed on the display unit 8 (Step 11). If the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is within the program guide screenbeing displayed on the display unit 8, the cursor image within thedisplay memory is moved so that the cursor is displayed at the positionof the destination of movement (Step 12).

If the position of the destination of the cursor movement is outside theprogram guide screen being displayed on the display unit 8, the slotcorresponding to the position of the destination of cursor movement isset as the reference cell to change (scroll) the program guide screen(Step 13). Then, the operation returns to Step 2. Accordingly, thedisplay table shown in FIG. 2 is created on the basis of the newly setreference slot, and a new program guide screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 8. Namely, the program guide screen is updated.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed procedure of program-guide-image generationprocessing in Step 3 shown in FIG. 3.

In this program-guide-image generation processing, as shown in FIG. 5, aprogram guide image is generated in which a time period in whichpurchased programs are present and a time period in which purchasedprograms are not present are displayed by being classified by coloring.

First, a frame image of a size corresponding to the number of itsexclusively occupied cells is written in the display memory for eachprogram within the display table (Step 21). Then, 1 is set in a variableSLOT-NUM which indicates a relative slot number (Step 22).

A determination is made as to whether or not a purchased program ispresent in the time period corresponding to the presently set variableSLOT-NUM (Step 23). If it is determined that a purchased program is notpresent in the time period corresponding to the presently set variableSLOT-NUM, color data representing a first color is written in the regionof the time period corresponding to the presently set variable SLOT-NUMin the inner regions of all the frames which have been written in thedisplay memory (Step 24). Then, the operation proceeds to Step 26.

In Step 23, if it is determined that a purchased program is present inthe time period corresponding to the presently set relative slot numberSLOT-NUM, color data representing a second color different from thefirst color is written in the region of the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM in the inner regions of all theframes which have been written in the display memory (Step 25). Then,the operation proceeds to Step 26.

In Step 26, the variable SLOT-NUM is incremented by 1. That is, thevariable SLOT-NUM is updated. Then, a determination is made as towhether or not the updated variable SLOT-NUM is greater than 5 (Step27). If the updated variable SLOT-NUM is less than or equal to 5 (NO inStep 27), the operation returns to Step 23, and processing in Steps 23to 26 is executed again with respect to the time period corresponding tothe updated variable SLOT-NUM. If processing in Steps 23 to 26 is thusexecuted with respect to each of the relative slot numbers 1 to 5, YESis given as the answer in Step 27, and the operation proceeds to Step28.

In Step 28, a cursor image is written in the display memory.Subsequently, an image representing a title (title image) is written ineach frame (Step 29), whereupon the program-guide-image generationprocessing ends.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the program guide screen displayed on thedisplay unit 8 on the basis of the program guide image thus formed. FIG.5 shows an example in which already purchased programs are present inthe time period 9:00 to 10:00. Accordingly, the interiors of the programframes in the time period 9:00 to 10:00 are colored in the second color(shown by hatching), and the interiors of the program frames in othertime periods are colored in the first color (shown by black spaces).

Thus, in the above-described embodiment, since the time period in whichpurchased programs are present and the time period in which purchasedprograms are not present are classified by coloring, the user is able toimmediately know the time period in which the purchased programs arepresent through the program guide screen. For this reason, it ispossible to prevent two or more programs from being purchased by mistakeduring the same time period.

Incidentally, if an already purchased program is present among theprograms which are written in the display memory, color datarepresenting a third color different from the first and second colorsmay be written within the frame of that program.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the program-guide-image generationprocessing.

In this program-guide-image generation processing, programs which havebeen purchased and programs which have not been purchased are classifiedby coloring, and a program guide image is generated in which the timeperiod in which the purchased programs are present is indicated bytriangular marks (Δ, ∇), as shown in FIG. 7.

First, a frame image of a size corresponding to the number ofexclusively occupied slots of the program within the display table iswritten in the display memory (Step 31).

Next, the color data representing the first color is written in theframes corresponding to the programs which have not been purchased amongall the frames which have been written in the display memory, while thecolor data representing the second color different from the first coloris written in the frames corresponding to the programs which have beenpurchased (Step 32). If a purchased program is not present among theprograms which are to be displayed in the display region, the color datarepresenting the first color is written in the interiors of all theframes which have been written in the display memory.

Next, after the cursor image is written in the display memory (Step 33),a title image is written in each frame (Step 34).

Next, 1 is set in the variable SLOT-NUM which indicates the relativeslot number (Step 35). Then, a determination is made as to whether ornot any purchased program is present in the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM (Step 36). If it is determined thata purchased program is not present in the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM, the operation proceeds to Step 41.

If it is determined that a purchased program is present in the timeperiod corresponding to the presently set variable SLOT-NUM, adetermination is made as to whether or not the purchased program ispresent in the display region (Step 37). If the purchased program ispresent in the display region, the operation proceeds to Step 41.

If a purchased program is not present in the display region, adetermination is made as to whether or not that purchased program islocated upwardly of the display region (Step 38). If it is determinedthat the purchased program is located upwardly of the display region(YES in Step 38), an image corresponding to the upward orientedtriangular mark Δ is written in the display memory so that the upwardoriented triangular mark Δ will be displayed in an upper region of thedisplay screen, this region being the region of the time periodcorresponding to the presently set relative slot number SLOT-NUM (Step39). Then, the operation proceeds to Step 41.

If it is determined that the purchased program is not located upwardlyof the display region (NO in Step 38), a determination is made that thepurchased program is located downwardly of the display region.Accordingly, in this case, an image corresponding to the downwardoriented triangular mark is written in the display memory so that thedownward oriented triangular mark ∇ will be displayed in a lower regionof the display screen, this region being the region of the time periodcorresponding to the presently set relative slot number SLOT-NUM (Step40). Then, the operation proceeds to Step 41.

In Step 41, the variable SLOT-NUM is incremented by 1. That is, thevariable SLOT-NUM is updated. Then, a determination is made as towhether or not the updated variable SLOT-NUM is greater than 5 (Step42). If the updated variable SLOT-NUM is less than or equal to 5 (NO inStep 42), the operation returns to Step 36, and processing in Steps 36to 41 is executed again with respect to the time period corresponding tothe updated variable SLOT-NUM. If processing in Steps 36 to 41 is thusexecuted with respect to each of the relative slot numbers 1 to 5, YESis given as the answer in Step 27, and the program-guide-imagegeneration processing ends.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the program guide screen displayed on thedisplay unit 8 on the basis of the program guide image thus formed. Inthis example, the upward oriented triangular mark Δ is displayed at thetime period 9:00 to 9:30, and the downward oriented triangular mark ∇ isdisplayed at the time period 9:30 to 10:00. In addition, a programduring 10:00 to 11:00 on channel 6 (title: I) is colored in the secondcolor.

Namely, during the time period of 9:00 to 9:30, an already purchasedprogram is present on the channel which is located upwardly of thechannels being displayed. In addition, during the time period of 9:30 to10:00, an already purchased program is present on the channel which islocated downwardly of the channels being displayed. Further, the programduring 10:00 to 11:00 on channel 6 (title: I) is an already purchasedprogram.

In this embodiment, programs which have been purchased and programswhich have not been purchased are displayed on the program guide screenby being classified by coloring, and the time period in which apurchased program is located upwardly of the display screen and the timeperiod in which a purchased program is located downwardly of the displayscreen are displayed by the triangular marks. Accordingly, the user isable to immediately know the time period in which the purchased programsare present through the program guide screen. For this reason, it ispossible to prevent two or more programs from being purchased by mistakeduring the same time period. In addition, if the triangular mark isdisplayed, the user is able to know if the purchased program is on thechannel located upwardly or downwardly of the program guide screen beingpresently displayed, so that it is easy to search a purchased programthrough the operation of the cursor.

FIG. 8 shows still another example of the program-guide-image generationprocessing. In this program-guide-image generation processing, a programguide image is generated in which the time period in which the purchasedprograms are present is indicated by a bar, as shown in FIG. 9.

First, a frame image of a size corresponding to the number ofexclusively occupied cells of the program within the display table iswritten in the display memory (Step 51).

Next, color data representing a predetermined color is written in allthe frames which have been written in the display memory (Step 52).Incidentally, if an already purchased program is present among programswhich are written in the display memory, the color data representing thefirst color may be written in the frames corresponding to the programswhich have not been purchased among all the frames which have beenwritten in the display memory, while the color data representing thesecond color different from the first color may be written in the framescorresponding to the programs which have been purchased.

Next, after the cursor image is written in the display memory (Step 53),a title image is written in each frame (Step 54).

Next, 1 is set in the variable SLOT-NUM which indicates the relativeslot number (Step 55). Then, a determination is made as to whether ornot any purchased program is present in the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM (Step 56). If it is determined thata purchased program is not present in the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM, the operation proceeds to Step 58.

If it is determined that a purchased program is present in the timeperiod corresponding to the presently set variable SLOT-NUM, an imagecorresponding to a bar is written in the display memory so that the barwill be displayed in an upper region of the display screen, this regionbeing the region of the time period corresponding to the presently setrelative slot number SLOT-NUM (Step 57). Then, the operation proceeds toStep 58.

In Step 58, the variable SLOT-NUM is incremented by 1. That is, thevariable SLOT-NUM is updated. Then, a determination is made as towhether or not the updated variable SLOT-NUM is greater than 5 (Step59). If the updated variable SLOT-NUM is less than or equal to 5 (NO inStep 59), the operation returns to Step 56, and processing in Steps 56to 58 is executed again with respect to the time period corresponding tothe updated variable SLOT-NUM. If processing in Steps 56 to 58 is thusexecuted with respect to each of the relative slot numbers 1 to 5, YESis given as the answer in Step 59, and the program-guide-imagegeneration processing ends.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the program guide screen displayed on thedisplay unit 8 on the basis of the program guide image thus formed. Inthis example, the bar is displayed in the upper region of the programguide screen, this region corresponding to the time period 9:00 to10:00. Namely, an example is shown in which a purchased program ispresent in the time period 9:00 to 10:00.

In this embodiment, since the time period in which a purchased programis present is indicated by the bar on the program guide screen, it ispossible to prevent two or more programs from being purchased by mistakeduring the same time period.

Next, a description will be given of an arrangement which makes itpossible for the user to set a time period during which the user wishesto view television programs, and which makes it possible for the user torecognize that the program guide on programs which are broadcast duringthe set time period is the program guide on programs which are broadcastduring the time period set by the user.

If a time-zone setting mode is selected on the menu screen, a time-zonesetting screen is displayed for setting the time period during which theuser wishes to view and so on, as shown in FIG. 11. If the user sets onthe time-zone setting screen the starting time and the ending time of atime period during which the user wishes to view television programs,and then selects an OK button, data on the starting time and the endingtime of the time period set by the user (hereafter, this data will bereferred to as the time period data) is stored in the storage device 9.In addition, the display screen is changed over from the time-zonesetting screen to the menu screen.

When the setting of the time period has been made, the program guidescreen is displayed so that the time period set by the user and theother time periods can be discriminated from each other. For example,the region corresponding to the time period set by the user and theregion corresponding to the other time periods are displayed indifferent colors in the display region of the program guide screen, asshown in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 illustrates a case in which the time period12:00 to 24:00 has been set by the user.

In the processing for displaying in FIG. 12, the program-guide-imagegeneration processing shown in FIG. 3 differs from that of the foregoingembodiment. Namely, if the time period has been set by the user, theregion corresponding to the time period set by the user and the regioncorresponding to the other time periods are displayed in differentcolors in the display region of the program guide screen, as shown inFIG. 12. Subsequently, the operation is set in a state of waiting for akey input.

When there has been a select key input by the select key 13 (YES in Step4), predetermined selection processing such as the selection of aprogram, a reservation of a program, and the like is executed.

When there has been a cursor key input by the cursor movement keys 12L,12R, 12U, and 12D (YES in Step 5), processing in Step 6, 7, or 9 iseffected in correspondence with the operated cursor movement keys 12L,12R, 12U, and 12D.

In other words, if the operated key is the left movement key 12L, theoperation proceeds to Step 6 to determine whether or not there has beena command for leftward movement from the left end of the entire programguide region E. If the operated key is the right movement key 12R, theoperation proceeds to Step 7 to determine whether or not there has beena command for rightward movement from the right end of the entireprogram guide region E. If the operated key is the upward movement key12U, the operation proceeds to Step 8 to determine whether or not therehas been a command for upward movement from the upper end of the entireprogram guide region E. If the operated key is the downward movement key12D, the operation proceeds to Step 9 to determine whether or not therehas been a command for downward movement from the lower end of theentire program guide region E.

The cursor cannot be moved if there has been a command for leftwardmovement from the left end of the entire program guide region E (YES inStep 6), if there has been a command for rightward movement from theright end of the entire program guide region E (YES in Step 7), if therehas been a command for upward movement from the upper end of the entireprogram guide region E (YES in Step 8), or if there has been a commandfor downward movement from the lower end of the entire program guideregion E (YES in Step 9), i.e., if the command is for movement outsidethe entire program guide region E. Hence, the operation returns to Step4, and is set in a state of waiting for a key input.

If the cursor movement command by the cursor key input is a command formovement within the entire program guide region, the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is calculated (Step 10). If thecursor movement command is a command for horizontal movement, theposition of the destination of the cursor movement is calculated bysetting the amount of movement as a one-cell portion (one-slot portion)in the horizontal direction. If the cursor movement command is a commandfor vertical movement, the position of the destination of the cursormovement is calculated by setting the amount of movement as a one-cellportion (one-slot portion) in the vertical direction.

Then, a determination is made as to whether or not the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is within the program guide screenbeing displayed on the display unit 8 (Step 11).

If the position of the destination of the cursor movement is within theprogram guide screen being displayed on the display unit 8, the cursorimage within the display memory is moved so that the cursor is displayedat the position of the destination of movement (Step 12).

If the position of the destination of the cursor movement is outside theprogram guide screen being displayed on the display unit 8, processingfor changing the reference cell is effected to change (scroll) theprogram guide screen (Step 13). In this processing for changing thereference cell, the position which is spaced apart the amount of cursormovement in the cursor moving direction from the present reference cellis set as a new reference cell in the entire program guide region E.After the new reference cell is set by the processing for changing thereference cell, the operation returns to Step 2. Accordingly, thedisplay table shown in FIG. 2 is created on the basis of the newly setreference cell, and a new program guide screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 8. Namely, the program guide screen is updated.

FIG. 13 shows a detailed procedure of the program-guide-image generationprocessing (Step 3 shown in FIG. 3) in the case where the time periodhas been set by the user.

First, a frame image of a size corresponding to the occupying time ofeach program is written in the display memory for each program withinthe display table on the basis of the number of the exclusively occupiedcells (Step 131). Then, 1 is set in a variable SLOT-NUM which indicatesa relative slot number (Step 132).

Next, on the basis of the time period data stored in the storage device9, a determination is made as to whether or not the time periodcorresponding to the presently set variable SLOT-NUM is included in thetime period set by the user (Step 133). If it is determined that thetime period corresponding to the presently set variable SLOT-NUM is notincluded in the time period set by the user, color data representing afirst color is written in the region of the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM in the inner regions of all theframes which have been written in the display memory (Step 134). Then,the operation proceeds to Step 136.

In Step 133, if it is determined that the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM is included in the time period setby the user, color data representing a second color different from thefirst color is written in the region of the time period corresponding tothe presently set variable SLOT-NUM in the inner regions of all theframes which have been written in the display memory (Step 135). Then,the operation proceeds to Step 136.

In Step 136, the variable SLOT-NUM is incremented by 1. That is, thevariable SLOT-NUM is updated. Then, a determination is made as towhether or not the updated variable SLOT-NUM is greater than 5 (Step137). If the updated variable SLOT-NUM is less than or equal to 5 (NO inStep 137), the operation returns to Step 133, and processing in Steps133 to 136 is executed again with respect to the time periodcorresponding to the updated variable SLOT-NUM. If processing in Steps133 to 136 is thus executed with respect to each of the relative slotnumbers 1 to 5, YES is given as the answer in Step 137, and theoperation proceeds to Step 138.

In Step 138, a cursor image is written in the display memory.Subsequently, an image representing a title (title image) is written ineach frame (Step 139), whereupon the program-guide-image generationprocessing ends.

If the time period has not been set by the user, the color datarepresenting the same color is written in all the frames which have beenwritten in the display memory in Step 131.

The time period during which the user wishes to view programs may be setfor each day of the week. In the case where time period during which theuser wishes to view programs is set for each day of the week, atime-zone setting screen such as the one shown in FIG. 14 is used. Ifthe user sets on this time-zone setting screen the starting time and theending time of the time period during which the user wishes to viewprograms on each day of the week, and then selects the OK button, dataon the starting time and the ending time of the time period set for eachday of the week (hereafter, this data will be referred to as the timeperiod data) is stored in the storage device 9. If the time periodduring which the user wishes to view programs has been set for each dayof the week, the programs are classified by coloring on the basis of thetime period data for the present day of the week.

Although in the above-described embodiment only one time period is setfor one day, a plurality of time periods may be set for one day.

In the above-described embodiment, the region corresponding to the timeperiod set by the user and the region corresponding to the other timeperiods are displayed in different colors in the display region of theprogram guide screen. Accordingly, since the time period which has beenset by the user can be recognized at a glance, it is readily possible toeffect the purchase by prescription or the like of PPV programs whichare broadcast during that time period.

Next, a description will be given of an arrangement for displaying thepresent time on the program guide screen.

The CPU 6 effects interrupt processing each time the program guideinformation is sent thereto. In this interrupt processing, on the basisof the program-guide-information changing information included in theprogram guide information a determination is made as to whether or notthe program guide information has been changed. If it is determined thatthe program guide information has been changed, aprogram-guide-information change flag FA for storing that the programguide information has been changed is set (FA=1). In addition, theprogram guide information stored in the storage unit 9 is updated, andthe index table is also updated.

Further, in the interrupt processing, a determination is made as towhether or not the time information received previously and the timeinformation received this time are different. If it is determined thatthe time information received previously and the time informationreceived this time are different, a time-information change flag FB forstoring that the time information has been changed is set (FB=1). Inaddition, the time information stored in the storage unit 9 is updated.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show a procedure of processing for displaying theprogram guide screen which is executed by the CPU 6 and theprogram-guide-image generating circuit 4. When the program guide isselected by the operation unit 5, the channel number selectedimmediately before then and the present time are read, and the referencecell is set in the entire program guide region E (see FIG. 10) (Step151).

The display table shown in FIG. 2 is created on the basis of the setreference cell and the index table (Step 152).

Information in this display table is sent from the CPU 6 to theprogram-guide-image generating circuit 4. In the program-guide-imagegenerating circuit 4, program-guide-image generation processing iseffected on the basis of the information sent thereto (Step 153).Namely, a program guide image is generated on the display memory. As theprogram guide image generated on the display memory is consecutivelyread and is sent to the display unit 8, the program guide screen isdisplayed on the display unit 8. A description will be given later ofthe details of the program-guide-image generation processing.

In addition, time-related-image generation processing is effected (Step154). Namely, the present time is digitally displayed at an upper leftportion of the display screen, and a triangular mark Δ is displayed in alower region of the display screen at the position corresponding to thepresent time. A description will be given later of the details of thetime-related-image generation processing.

Next, a determination is made as to whether or not theprogram-guide-information change flag FA has been set (Step 155). If theprogram-guide-information change flag FA has not been set, adetermination is made as to whether or not time-information change flagFB has been set (Step 156). If the time-information change flag FB hasnot been set, a determination is made as to whether or not there hasbeen a select key input by the select key 13 (Step 158). If there hasbeen no select key input by the select key 13, a determination is madeas to whether or not there has been a cursor key input by the cursormovement keys 12L, 12R, 12U, and 12D (Step 159). If there has been nocursor key input by the cursor movement keys 12L, 12R, 12U, and 12D, theoperation returns to Step 5. Then, processing in Steps 155, 156, 158,and 159 is repeated until a key input is made.

If there has been a select key input by the select key 13 (YES in Step158), predetermined selection processing such as the selection of aprogram, a reservation of a program, and the like is executed.

If there has been a cursor key input by the cursor movement keys 12L,12R, 12U, and 12D (YES in Step 159), processing in Step 160, 161, 162,or 163 is effected in correspondence with the operated cursor movementkey 12L, 12R, 12U, or 12D.

Namely, the operated key is the left movement key 12L, the operationproceeds to Step 160 to determine whether or not there has been acommand for leftward movement from the left end of the entire programguide region E. If the operated key is the right movement key 12R, theoperation proceeds to Step 161 to determine whether or not there hasbeen a command for rightward movement from the right end of the entireprogram guide region E. If the operated key is the upward movement key12U, the operation proceeds to Step 162 to determine whether or notthere has been a command for upward movement from the upper end of theentire program guide region E. If the operated key is the downwardmovement key 12D, the operation proceeds to Step 163 to determinewhether or not there has been a command for downward movement from thelower end of the entire program guide region E.

The cursor cannot be moved if there has been a command for leftwardmovement from the left end of the entire program guide region E (YES inStep 160), if there has been a command for rightward movement from theright end of the entire program guide region E (YES in Step 161), ifthere has been a command for upward movement from the upper end of theentire program guide region E (YES in Step 162), or if there has been acommand for downward movement from the lower end of the entire programguide region E (YES in Step 163), i.e., if the command is for movementoutside the entire program guide region E. Therefore, the operationreturns to Step 155.

If the cursor movement command by the cursor key input is a command formovement within the entire program guide region, the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is calculated (Step 164). If thecursor movement command is a command for horizontal movement, theposition of the destination of the cursor movement is calculated bysetting the amount of movement as a one-cell portion (one-slot portion)in the horizontal direction. If the cursor movement command is a commandfor vertical movement, the position of the destination of the cursormovement is calculated by setting the amount of movement as a one-cellportion (one-slot portion) in the vertical direction.

Then, a determination is made as to whether or not the position of thedestination of the cursor movement is within the program guide screenbeing displayed on the display unit 8 (Step 165).

If the position of the destination of the cursor movement is within theprogram guide screen being displayed on the display unit 8, the cursorimage within the display memory is moved so that the cursor is displayedat the position of the destination of movement (Step 166). Then, theoperation returns to Step 155.

If the position of the destination of the cursor movement is outside theprogram guide screen being displayed on the display unit 8, processingfor changing the reference cell is effected to change (scroll) theprogram guide screen (Step 167). In this processing for changing thereference cell, the position which is spaced apart the amount of cursormovement in the cursor moving direction from the present reference cellis set as a new reference cell in the entire program guide region E.After the new reference cell is set by the processing for changing thereference cell, the operation returns to Step 152. Accordingly, thedisplay table shown in FIG. 2 is created on the basis of the newly setreference cell, and a new program guide screen is displayed on thedisplay unit 8. Namely, the program guide screen is updated.

In a case where the program guide screen is being displayed, if theoperation is set in a state of waiting for a key input by the operator,processing in Steps 155, 156, 158, and 159 has been repeated. Therefore,if the program-guide-information change flag FA is set (FA=1) byinterrupt processing by the CPU 6 while the program guide screen isbeing displayed, YES is given as the answer in Step 155, and theoperation proceeds to Step 157. When the operation has proceeded fromStep 155 to Step 157, the time information representing the present timeshould have also been updated. In Step 157, the reference cell isupdated on the basis of the present time represented by the updated timeinformation and the channel number selected immediately before then.

Specifically, the reference cell is moved by a one-cell portion in thedirection in which the time proceeds (in the rightward direction). Then,the operation returns to Step 152 to effect the processing for creatingthe display table and the program-guide-image generation processing.That is, if the program-guide-information change flag FA is set (FA=1)by interrupt processing while the program guide screen is beingdisplayed, the program guide image is updated. Incidentally, theprogram-guide-information change flag FA is reset in theprogram-guide-image generation processing, as will be described later.

Meanwhile, if the time-information change flag FB is set (FB=1) byinterrupt processing by the CPU 6 while the program guide screen isbeing displayed, YES is given as the answer in Step 156, and theoperation returns to Step 154 to effect the time-related-imagegeneration processing. That is, if the time-information change flag FBis set (FB=1) by interrupt processing while the program guide screen isbeing displayed, the time-related image is updated. It should be notedthat the time-information change flag FB is reset in thetime-related-image generation processing, as will be described later.

FIG. 17 shows a detailed procedure of the program-guide-image generationprocessing in Step 153 shown in FIG. 15. First, theprogram-guide-information change flag FA is reset (FA=0) (Step 171).Cases where the program-guide-information change flag FA is changed fromthe set state to the reset state include: a case where theprogram-guide-information change flag FA has already been set when thedisplay of the program guide screen is selected, and the operation hasproceeded to Step 153 through Steps 151 and 152; and a case where theprogram-guide-information change flag FA is set while the program guidescreen is being displayed, and the operation has proceeded to Step 153through Steps 155, 157, and 152.

Next, a frame image of a size corresponding to the occupying time ofeach program is written in the display memory for each program withinthe display table on the basis of the number of the exclusively occupiedcells (Step 172). Next, a cursor image is written in the display memory(Step 173). Subsequently, an image representing a title (title image) iswritten in each frame (Step 174). This completes the program-guide-imagegeneration processing for the present occasion.

FIG. 18 shows a detailed procedure of the time-related-image generationprocessing in Step 154 shown in FIG. 15. First, the time-informationchange flag FB is reset (FB=0) (Step 181). Cases where thetime-information change flag FB is changed from the set state to thereset state include: a case where the time-information change flag FBhas already been set when the display of the program guide screen isselected, and the operation has proceeded to Step 154 through Steps 151,152, and 153; and a case where the time-information change flag FB isset while the program guide screen is being displayed, and the operationhas proceeded to Step 154 through Step 156.

Next, numerical values and a code are written in the display memory fordigitally displaying the present time at an upper left portion of thedisplay screen (Step 182). Incidentally, the present time is specifiedby the time information sent from a transmitting side. Then, adetermination is made as to whether or not the present time is includedin a broadcast time period corresponding the program guides stored inthe display memory (Step 183).

If it is determined that the present time is included in the broadcasttime period corresponding the program guides stored in the displaymemory, the position which is in the lower region of the display screenand corresponds to the present time is calculated (Step 184), and thetriangular mark A is written at the position in the display memory whichcorrespond to the calculated position (Step 35). This completes theprogram-guide-image generation processing for the present occasion. As aresult, the program guide screen such as the one shown in FIG. 19 isdisplayed on the display unit 8.

If it is determined in the aforementioned Step 183 that the present timeis not included in the broadcast time period corresponding the programguides stored in the display memory, the program-guide-image generationprocessing for the present occasion ends without effecting processing inSteps 184 and 185.

In the above-described embodiment, since the triangular mark Δ isdisplayed at the position which is in the lower region of the displayscreen and corresponds to the present time as shown in FIG. 19, it ispossible to recognize at a glance the elapsed time after the starting ofthe broadcast of the program being presently broadcast. For this reason,a situation is difficult to occur in which a PPV program is selected andviewed without recognizing the elapsed time after the starting of thebroadcast of the PPV program.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, sincedisplay is provided in the program guide display such that the timeperiod for which the user made a purchase by subscription and the timeperiod designated by the user can be discriminated, the situation ismade unlikely to occur in which two or more PPV programs which arebroadcast during the same time period happen to be purchased, or such adisplay can be used as a rough criterion as to whether or not a PPVprogram or the like is to be purchased.

1. A program-guide-display controlling apparatus comprising: means fordisplaying a plurality of program guides on a display unit in a matrixform by using one of the ordinate and the abscissa as a channel numberaxis and another one as a time axis; means for determining whether anyof a plurality of time periods includes a purchased one of a pluralityof purchasable programs, wherein a first of the plurality of timeperiods begins immediately after a second of the plurality of timeperiods ends; and means for distinguishing on the display unit betweenthe time periods which include a purchased one of the plurality ofpurchasable programs and the time periods which do not include anypurchased one of the plurality of purchasable programs.
 2. Aprogram-guide-display controlling apparatus comprising: means fordisplaying a plurality of program guides on a display unit in a matrixform by using one of the ordinate and the abscissa as a channel numberaxis and another one as a time axis, means for determining whether anyof a plurality of time periods includes a purchased one of a pluralityof purchasable programs; and means for distinguishing on the displayunit between the time periods which include a purchased one of theplurality of purchasable programs and the time periods which do notinclude any purchased one of the plurality of purchasable programswherein the means for distinguishing comprises at least one first colorassociated with the time periods which include a purchased one of theplurality of purchasable programs and at least one second color which isdifferent than the at least one first color and is associated with thetime periods which do not include any purchased one of the plurality ofpurchasable programs.
 3. A program-guide-display controlling apparatuscomprising: means for displaying a plurality of items of program guideinformation on a display unit in a matrix form by using one of theordinate and the abscissa as a channel number axis and another one as atime axis; means for determining whether any of a plurality of timeperiods includes a purchased one of a plurality of purchasable programs,wherein a first of the plurality of time periods begins immediatelyafter a second of the plurality of time periods ends; and means fordistinguishing on the display unit between the time periods whichinclude a purchased one of the plurality of purchasable programs and thetime periods which do not include any purchased one of the plurality ofpurchasable programs, wherein the distinguishing means comprises a meansfor displaying a bar proximate to the time periods which include apurchased one of the plurality of purchasable programs.
 4. Aprogram-guide-display controlling apparatus comprising: means fordisplaying a plurality of program guides on a display unit in a matrixform by using one of the ordinate and the abscissa as a channel numberaxis and another one as a time axis; selecting means for allowing atleast one time period to be selected by a user, wherein at least one aplurality of programs is associated with the at least one time period;and means for distinguishing on the display unit between the at leastone time period selected by the user and time periods not selected bythe user, wherein said means for distinguishing comprises at least onefirst color associated with the at least one time period selected by theuser, and at least one second color which is different than the at leastone first color and is associated with time periods not selected by theuser.
 5. The program-guide-display controlling apparatus according toclaim 4, wherein said setting means allows the starting time and theending time of the at least one time period to be set by the user. 6.The program-guide-display controlling apparatus according to claim 4,wherein the setting means allows the starting time and the ending timeof the at least one time period to be set for each day of the week bythe user.
 7. A television receiver comprising a program-guide displaycontrolling apparatus: means for displaying a plurality of programguides on a display unit in a matrix form by using one of the ordinateand the abscissa as a channel number axis and another one as time axis;means for determining whether any of a plurality of time periodsincludes a purchased one of a plurality of purchasable programs, whereina first of the plurality of time periods begins immediately after asecond of the plurality of time periods ends; and means fordistinguishing on the display unit between the time periods whichinclude a purchased one of the plurality of purchasable programs and thetime periods which do not include any purchased one of the plurality ofpurchasable programs.
 8. A television receiver comprising aprogram-guide-display controlling apparatus for displaying a pluralityof program guides on a display unit in a matrix form by using one of theordinate and the abscissa as a channel number axis and another one as atime axis, said program-guide-display controlling apparatus comprising:selecting means for allowing at least one time period to be selected bya user, wherein at least one a plurality of programs is associated withthe at least one time period; and means for distinguishing on thedisplay unit between the at least one time period selected by the userand time periods not selected by the user, wherein said setting meansallows the starting time and the ending time of the at least one timeperiod to be set by the user, and said means for distinguishingcomprises at least one first color associated with the at least one timeperiod selected by the user, and at least one second color which isdifferent than the at least one first color and is associated with timeperiods not selected by the user.